The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Coimbatore Zone conducted its fifth edition of the Conference on Manufacturing Automation at Coimbatore today (6th August 24).
The event, themed around propelling industrial growth through automation and digital transformation, brought together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to discuss the future of manufacturing.
Takashi Yuasa, Director, Mori Seiki India Pvt Ltd in his keynote address presented a visionary perspective on manufacturing transformation. He highlighted the transition from multiple machines to a single, automated unit as a key strategy for enhancing efficiency and environmental sustainability. Yuasa stressed the importance of reducing both workforce and machine count, aligning these efforts with the concept of Green Transformation.
Srinath K, Vice President – Smart Manufacturing Solutions, Multivista Global Pvt Ltd during his special address at the inaugural of the conference commended Coimbatore as a frontrunner in automation. He emphasized the transformative potential of smart manufacturing technologies, particularly the role of AI in improving safety and security. He dispelled the myth that automation leads to job losses, instead highlighting its role in creating skilled opportunities. His insights on integrating AI for intelligent processes resonated strongly with the audience.
Arjun Prakash, Conference Chairman and Whole Time Director, Effica Automation, highlighted the critical role of robotics and automation in business transformation, particularly in addressing the city’s labour scarcity. He emphasized the need for skilled talent to drive this transformation and highlighted Coimbatore’s potential to become a hub for skilled workforce development. His emphasis on the mismatch between skill sets and job requirements in the city sparked insightful discussions.
G Radhakrishnan, Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone & Managing Director, Sieger Spintech Equipment Pvt Ltd during his welcome address delved deeper into the challenges faced by companies in implementing automation. He stressed the importance of conducting thorough assessments to identify the most suitable automation solutions for individual businesses. He highlighted the critical role of data integration in material flow as a cornerstone of digital transformation.
Dr B Vinod, HoD – Department of Robotics & Automation, PSG College of Technology concluded the inaugural expressing gratitude to all speakers for their insightful contributions.
The conference featured engaging panel discussions on Robotics & Material Handling, IoT and Digitalization, Cost Economics and Quality in Automation. Industry leaders from Rockwell Automation, Kawasaki Robotics, Mori Seiki India, Renishaw and Adna Automation shared their experiences and insights providing valuable guidance to attendees.
The event concluded with the recognition of three major industries from Coimbatore—ZF Wind Power, Lakshi Life Science, and Sieger Spintech Equipments that have successfully adopted digitalization and Industry 4.0 technologies in their organisation. These companies were honoured at the conference for their achievements.
